Ornamentation of plaques



Jan. 22, 1957 A. B. BELGARD 2,778,136

ORNAMENTATION OF PLAQUES Filed Nov. 20, 1953 2 Shets-Sheet l ATTORNEY '7/ Jan. 22, 1957 A. B. BELGARD 2,778,136

ORNAMENTATION OF PLAQUES Filed Nov. 20, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

IIVVENTOR.-

2,778,136 ORNAMENTATION F PLAQUES Austin B. Belgard, Evanston, Ill. A plication November 20, 1953, Serial No. 393,313 4 Claims. (CI. 41-34) This invention relates to the ornamentation of plaques.

The invention is particularly useful in the "ornamentation of s ectacle frames and piaques used for various other pur oses.

An object of the invention is to provide a plaque in 'whieh means are provided for 'releasab ly attaching elentents t'othe plaques. A further object is to provide a *conihined plaque and ornament structure in which the ornament may be attached with a minimum "of effort and structural parts to the plaque or structural body. -A

still further object is to rovide, in combination with a spectacle frame, or the like, means for releasably securing elements thereen such as ernarnents' etc. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds. v

"The invention is shown, 'in an illustrative embodiment, yjrhe accompanying drawingsin which Th'gure i is a perspective view of a spectacle and a transverse sectional view of the structure shownin Fig. Q; Fig. 5, "a perspective view of a modified struct't'lre in detached structure; and Fig. 12, a sectional view showing the attachment of the ornament element to the structure ame to the frame; 4,

2,7 78,136 Patented Jan. 22, 1957 in Fig. 8. Sirr'1il'a'rly, the free leg 21 may 'be pressed in"- wardly to release the catch 15 from the plaque I2, and the same may be removed. The wearer of the glasses and "such ornaments relieve the heavy character of the p'Iastic'fr-arnes it], while at thesame time being set outwith the metal base or plaque 12 forming a background In the modification shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, inclusive, a shield or plaque 22 provided with an opening therein issecuired over a slot or recess 24 formed within the plastic endpiece Pins 26 welded to the plaque or shield 22 are extended through openings 27 drille'd through the plastic endpiece 25 and the ends or :the pins may be secured to a back plate by soldering, riveting, or by any ether suitable means. With the structure shown, the shield er plaque 22 provides at "the springing the leg at ochre eaten me wardiy, as heretofore described. 9 v a In the structures shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, I provide a simplified arrangement in which a smaller recess is required for the plaque to which the ornament is to be attached. In this form of structure, I provide a retaining element which is characterized by having the main portion of the spring legs thereof lying fiat against the plaque and thus occupying a minimum of space, while at the same time the elongated legs may be sprung laterally for attachment or detachment of the ornament from the ing lugs 37 for securing a stone 33 or other ornamental device to the main plaque 35.

With the structure shown best in Figs. 3 and 4, the

freely along one side to cause the laterally-turned legs to move inwardly so that they may be thus removed from the recesses 32 of the plaque 35. The great advancontract the spring or allow it to expand in the detachment and securing operations.

In the illustration shown in Fig. 5, I provide a plastic frame 39 having therein an opening 40. On opposite sidesof the opening 49 are the small openings 41, and a plate 42 is provided with pins 43 which may be extended through the openings 41 to secure the plate or plaque 42 in position over the opening40. The plate 42 is then anchored and in position to receive the spring points 33 of the spring member 34 shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

Fig. 6 sets forth of an earring 44 and having an ornament structure in the nature carried thereon a plaque 45 provided with openings 46. An ornament 47 is equipped withwa U-shaped retainer device 34, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and the ornament may be attached or detached from the plaque 45 in the same manner in which the ornament is attached and detached in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. The ornament structure is likewise applicable to brooches, lockets, rings, bracelets, and a variety of pieces of jewelry. Further, instead of employing a single stone, it will be obvious that a group or cluster of stones may be employed, and that the release in such instances may be effected by the total movement of the trim in disengaging the latch.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth specific structures in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1 claim:

1. In combination with a plaque having a pair of openings therethrough, an ornament element having an inner surface adapted to abut the plaque, a U-shaped spring catch having a pair of spring legs extending along said inner surface of said element, said catch being secured to the element at one place so as to provide at least one free spring leg flexible along a plane parallel to the surface of said element, said legs having point portions adapted to be extended through the openings of the plaque to secure said element against said plaque with said surface abutting said plaque.

2. In combination with an endpiece of a spectacle frame haviugspaced openings therethrough, an elongated ornament element having an inner surface adapted to engage the front surface of said endpiece, a U-shaped spring catch extending along said inner surface and secured thereto at one point so as to provide a free spring leg flexible along a plane parallel to said inner surface, said legs having rearwardly extending point portions adapted to project rearwardly through the openings of the plaque to lock said element against said plaque.

3. In a plastic frame having a recess therein and an apertured metal part extending over said recess, an ornament having a rear surface adapted to engage the front of said metal part, said ornament being equipped with spring legs flexible along a plane parallel to said rear surface and having rearwardly turned end portions adapted to be extended through the aperture of said metal part for locking said ornament upon said frame, said frame recess concealing and enclosing said spring legs when said ornament is locked upon said frame.

4. A spectacle frame having a recess in one end portion thereof, a metal plate secured to said frame and over said recess, said plate having openings therethrough, and an ornament element equipped with a U-shaped spring catch having a pair of spring legs, said legs having rearwardly turned spring points extendable through the openings of said metal part into said recess for locking said ornament element upon said metal plate, said recess concealing and enclosing said spring points.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

